Law School Deans Propose a Compromise on Standardized Test Requirement for Admissions

  Proposal by Law Deans to Modify Rule on Standardized Test Requirement for Law School Admissions
Deans of over half of the law schools in the country are working to salvage the longstanding rule that mandates the use of standardized tests like the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) for student admissions. Rather than allowing law schools to become fully test-optional as planned, the deans propose that the American Bar Association's Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar modify the rule to permit schools to admit up to 25% of new students without a standardized test score. This compromise proposal falls between the twisting law that allows schools to admit up to 10% of the class without such scores and the ABA's plan to eliminate the standardized test requirement by 2025 to grant schools more flexibility in their selection process.
 

Debate on the Impact of Standardized Tests on Diversity among Law Students
On Friday in Chicago, the council of the American Bar Association's legal education section, which oversees law school accreditation standards, is scheduled to discuss the proposal put forth by the law deans. These deans include leaders from esteemed institutions such as the University of Pennsylvania, UC Berkeley, and the University and deans from less prestigious and unranked schools. In a letter to the ABA last month, signed by 125 deans representing 63% of ABA-accredited law schools, the deans requested that the ABA assess the proposed modification within six years of implementation to avoid any "unintended consequences." "Certainly, once an admissions test is abandoned, it will be hard to reverse course," tUsing The use of standardized tests, specifically the LSAT, has been the subject of passionate debate for years. Still, the movement to eliminate it gained traction in early 2022. Supporters and opponents of the proposal are focused on its potential impact on diversity among law students and consumer protection.
 
Concerns of LSAT Supporters on Abolishing the Test for Law School Admissions
Supporters of the LSAT have expressed concerns that abolishing it could result in admissions offices relying more on subjective measures like an applicant's college prestige, which could negatively impact minority applicants. They argue that this is a barrier for minority applicants because, on average, they score lower than white and Asian test-takers. A study conducted in 2019 found that the average score for Black LSAT takers was 142, compared to 153 for safelist takers test-takers.

Under the current rule, law schools must use a "valid and reliable" test in admissions, with both the LSAT and GRE being accepted. Any other standard schools use by schools must demonstrate the test's ability to predict law school performance.

The Law School Admission is responsible for administering the LSAT, supported by the dean's proposal. Given the consensus among deans, they urge the ABA Council to consider adjusting its course.